Ex-Beatle urges Russian president to release 28 campaigners and two freelance journalists from detention

Sir Paul McCartney has written a personal letter to the Russian president calling for the release of Greenpeace activists arrested during a protest against drilling in the Arctic.

The ex-Beatle told Vladimir Putin that the 28 campaigners and two freelance journalists, who have been in detention since September, should be reunited with their families.

The so-called Arctic 30, who were this week transferred from Murmansk to St Petersburg, face charges of hooliganism.

Sir Paul, who has met Mr Putin in the Kremlin, wrote: “Forty-five years ago I wrote a song about Russia for the White Album, back when it wasn’t fashionable for English people to say nice things about your country.

“That song had one of my favourite Beatles lines in it: ‘Been away so long I hardly knew the place, gee it’s good to be back home’. Could you make that come true for the Greenpeace prisoners?”

This morning, after releasing the letter on his website, he tweeted: “The Russian Ambassador kindly responded saying that their situation ‘is not properly represented in the world media’.”

Russia's President Vladimir Putin

Sir Paul then tweeted: “It would be great if this misunderstanding could be resolved and the protesters can be home with their families in time for Christmas” and finished by tweeting: “We live in hope. Paul McCartney.”

The letter said: “Vladimir, millions of people in dozens of countries would be hugely grateful if you were to intervene to bring about an end to this affair. I understand of course that the Russian courts and the Russian Presidency are separate. Nevertheless I wonder if you may be able to use whatever influence you have to reunite the detainees with their families?”

The private letter, written on October 14, added: “I am writing to assure you that the Greenpeace I know is most certainly not an anti-Russian organisation...And above all else they are peaceful. In my experience, non-violence is an essential part of who they are.”

Kumi Naidoo, executive director of Greenpeace International, said: “Sir Paul’s letter is an extraordinary and beautiful plea for justice from one of the 20th century’s most famous icons, and it went straight into the inbox of President Putin himself.

“We know some of the Arctic 30 are able to listen to the radio in their cells, and some of them are no doubt Beatles fans, so this news would be music to their ears.

“Sir Paul is hugely respected in Russia, and so we hope his letter brings the day closer when those 30 brave men and women are back with their families.”

Greenpeace said more than two million people have sent letters and emails calling for the Arctic 30 to be released.

Paul McCartney's letter to Vladimir Putin in full:

Dear Vladimir, I hope this letter finds you well.

It is now more than ten years since I played in Red Square, but I still often think about Russia and the Russian people.

I am writing to you about the 28 Greenpeace activists and two journalists being held in Murmansk.

I hope you will not object to me bringing up their case.

I hear from my Russian friends that the protesters are being portrayed in some quarters as being anti-Russian, that they were doing the bidding of western governments, and that they threatened the safety of the people working on that Arctic oil platform.

I am writing to assure you that the Greenpeace I know is most certainly not an anti-Russian organisation.

In my experience they tend to annoy every government!

And they never take money from any government or corporation anywhere in the world.

And above all else they are peaceful. In my experience, non-violence is an essential part of who they are.

I see you yourself have said that they are not pirates - well, that's something everybody can agree on.

Just as importantly, they don't think they are above the law.

They say they are willing to answer for what they actually did, so could there be a way out of this, one that benefits everybody?

Vladimir, millions of people in dozens of countries would be hugely grateful if you were to intervene to bring about an end to this affair.

I understand of course that the Russian courts and the Russian Presidency are separate.

Nevertheless I wonder if you may be able to use whatever influence you have to reunite the detainees with their families?

Forty-five years ago I wrote a song about Russia for the White Album, back when it wasn't fashionable for English people to say nice things about your country.

That song had one of my favourite Beatles lines in it: "Been away so long I hardly knew the place, gee it's good to be back home."

Could you make that come true for the Greenpeace prisoners?

I hope, when our schedules allow, we can meet up again soon in Moscow.

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